Bottled water – ﬁzzing with health?

Get expert advice on the difference between tap and bottled water.

Bottled water is sold as a healthy and pure product, which is worth a premium price. Yet the latest research in Canada suggests that some brands contain more bacteria than tap water. So, what's the truth about bottled water?

It doesn't matter that clean tap water is near enough free and readily available in Britain. People are prepared to pay for 'designer' water, which has a reputation for being healthier and tastier.

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Bottled water is now big business, and 2.3 billion litres of bottled water are now sold every year in the UK.

But, bottled water may not be all it's cracked up to be.

In fact, a recent scientific study, published in May 2010, found that 70 per cent of popular water brands tested in Canada contained much higher levels of bacteria than tap water.

Microbiologist Dr Sonish Azam, of C-crest Laboratories, said bottled water did not live up to its claims for purity.

MOST POPULAR

'Heterotrophic bacteria counts in some of the bottles were found to be 100 times more than the permitted limit,' she says.

Bottled water – defined as either: spring or mineral water that originates from an underground source or water, which may be from any source and can be treated to make it fit for human consumption – is not expected to be free from microorganisms.

But the levels found in Canada worried researchers who felt that such high levels of the bacteria could pose a risk for vulnerable people – such as pregnant women, infants and the elderly.

Should we be worried in the UK?

According to Dr Paul Stillman, a GP who specialises in health education, there's certainly no need to panic.

Most bottled water consumed here is sourced in the UK.

There are also rigorous testing procedures in place, although no bottled water is completely free from bacteria.

'Sampling techniques of both bottled and tap water in the UK show bacteria being present simply because the world is covered in bugs and bacteria are everywhere.

'What's important to remember is the bacteria count in all types of water is low and so is easily dealt with by the body,' he says.

Tap or bottle?

The question of which is healthier and tastier is still, however, open to debate.

Water UK, which represents all UK water suppliers at national and European level, says the UK mains tap water supply is not only totally safe to drink but of extremely high quality.

This is because water companies have to adhere to strict guidelines.

What's more in taste tests across the UK, people can rarely tell the difference between bottled water and tap water if they are served the same way (fresh and cool).

What supposedly makes mineral water stand apart from other types of water is its composition. Calcium, magnesium, iron and sulphate are all found in mineral water and are said to be beneficial to drinkers, though there's no strong scientific evidence that suggests this is the case.

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Paul Martin, Managing Director of Harrogate Spring Water, which sells over 50 million bottles of spring water a year, says that people buy his product for the taste.

'Bottled water is a matter of taste, rather than health. We're lucky in the UK that we have such good mains water and sourced water and that the controls for both are very rigorous.

'It means both types of water taste good and are good to drink.

'The added value of bottled water is its consistency,' he says.

Unlike tap water, which varies in taste according to where you are in the country, 'whenever you open a bottle of Harrogate Spring Water it will taste the same wherever you are in the UK'.

The most important thing to remember, if you want to get the key health benefit from water, is make sure you drink enough of it – around eight glasses each day.

Then it's up to you whether you prefer it straight out of the tap or poured from a bottle.

Plastic bottles

Glass bottles used to be the norm, but an increasing number of bottled waters come in plastic containers.

There have been concerns that chemicals in plastic bottles can leach out and contaminate the 'pure' water within.

If you're worried here's what you need to know.

In the UK and the EU, plastic bottles used for water (usually made from PET – polyethylene terephthalate – plastic) are held to safety standards. This means, that tests have been done on the safety of the plastics used in water bottles — including the potential for chemicals leaching or 'migrating' from the plastic into the water — and established that they pose no significant risk to human health.

One study from Germany found very small levels of the chemical 'antimony' in water bottled in PET plastic. Antimony is used in minute amounts in the manufacture of PET plastic across the world and there is a EU maximum permitted level in bottled water. All reported levels of antimony found in bottled water are considerably below the safe level permitted.

Plastic bottles in the heat: there are no carcinogens in PET plastic, and it's a myth that a plastic bottle left in the sun will leach carcinogens into the drink it contains.

The materials in this web site are in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor. The web site does not have answers to all problems. Answers to specific problems may not apply to everyone. If you notice medical symptoms or feel ill, you should consult your doctor - for further information see our Terms and conditions.

Getting healthy just got a whole lot easier

Don't miss out on the latest healthy living news and inspiration direct to your inbox.

Enter your email address:

this is a test error

We will also let you know about discounts and great offers from us, tick this box if you'd rather not know about these.
Hearst Partners would like to let you know about some of their fantastic discounts, special offers, and promotions. We promise you wont be bombarded. Tick here if you would like to receive these.